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Month: August 2014

Persib Bandung moved into second spot in the Western zone of the Indonesia Super League on Sunday after recording a 2-1 win over struggling Persita Tangerang.

Maung Bandung took the lead at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in the 18th minute when Vladimir Vujovic was left unmarked at the far post, and met Makan Konate’s pinpoint delivery with a looping header into the back of the net.

And five minutes later, they doubled their advantage after an error in judgement from opposition keeper Reky Rahayu saw him completely miss in his attempt to punch clear a corner, allowing Konate to stab the ball home from close range.

Persib then wasted an excellent chance to edge further ahead moments later after being awarded a penalty, as Vujovic screwed his shot wide having sent Reky the wrong direction.

Persita did manage to pull one back eight minutes from time when Dibyo Previan Caesario forced his way into the box before lashing an unstoppable shot into the far corner, although the visitors ultimately held out for the win.

The result was enough to see Persib overtake Semen Padang in second spot, and they are now five points behind leaders Arema Cronus.

In Sunday’s other game, Pelita Bandung Raya moved one spot up to fourth on the table after beating Sriwijaya 2-1 at the Jakabaring Stadium.

Bambang Pamungkas had fired the visitors into the lead in the 21st minute, but Lancine Kone equalised for Sriwijaya six minutes later after converting a penalty.

However, it was Pelita who went on to win it after Bambang grabbed his second of the game with just six minutes remaining to hand his side maximum points.

Selangor are still in a strong position to qualify for the Malaysia Cup knockout round despite a 1-1 draw with Group D leaders PDRM on Saturday evening.

The Red Giants broke the deadlock at the Shah Alam Stadium after 11 minutes when Andik Vermansyah netted, although Alafi Mahmud equalised with five minutes remaining to earn PDRM a share of the spoils.

The result was enough to see the Cops wrap up top spot, while Selangor in second place and a point ahead of Sime Darby, who made it two wins on the trot after beating T-Team 2-1 and ending their opponents’ hopes of progress.

Sime Darby, who had claimed just one point from their opening three games, took the lead at the Majlis Perbandaran Selayang Stadium through Mateo Roskam’s 15th minute opener, before Dzulfahmi Abdul Hadi doubled their advantage two minutes before the half-hour mark.

Jimmy Mulisa did manage to pull one back for T-Team in the 49th minute but it proved to be a mere consolation, as the hosts held out for the win.

Over in Group B, Perak remain top following a 1-1 draw with Sarawak at the Sarawak State Stadium.

Following a goalless first half, Hairol Mokhtar fired the hosts ahead a minute after the hour mark, but Marco Tulio hit back for Perak in the 77th minute to help them claim a valuable point.

Bos Gaurus remain ahead of second-placed Terengganu on goal difference after they were also denied victory in a 2-2 draw with Kedah at the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium.

Although Ashaari Shamsuddin had put the hosts in front in the 36th minute, Kedah equalised on the stroke of halftime when Baddrol Bakhtiar found the back of the net.

Hijau Kuning then edged ahead in the 69th minute through a Woong Nam-gung strike, only for Ismail Faruqi Asha’ri to force the draw for the Turtles ten minutes later.

Leaders DPMM FC moved five points clear at the top of the S.League on Saturday evening after coming from behind to beat Tanjong Pagar United 2-1.

The Jaguars were initially leading at the Queenstown Stadium courtesy of Kamel Ramdani’s 22nd-minute opener; the Frenchman breaking free after playing a one-two with Sebastien Etiemble before firing into the bottom corner.

However, the visitors pulled level a minute after the hour mark when Rodrigo Tosi met a corner and sent a header past Aurelien Herisson.

And deep into injury-time, Tosi struck again to win it for DPMM as he scored from the penalty spot after he had been fouled inside the box by Hanafi Salleh.

In Saturday’s other game, Woodlands Wellington’s winless streak in the league was extended to six matches after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Harimau Muda at the Woodlands Stadium.

It appeared as though the Rams were going to claim their first victory since June after taking the lead nine minutes after halftime; Andy Ahmad beating the offside trap to race onto a through-ball by Chang Jo-yoon before slotting past Ramdhan Hamid.

But two minutes from time, Syafwan Syahlan met Azrul Nizam Muhammad’s left-wing cross and guided his shot into the bottom corner to earn the visitors a share of the spoils.

FELDA United are through to the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Cup after beating Johor Darul Ta’zim 3-1 in Group A on Friday evening.

FELDA edged ahead after just five minutes when Zah Rahan Krangar found the back of the net, before Ahmad Syamim Yahya doubled their lead in the 16th minute.

Four minutes after halftime, the result was put beyond doubt when Raimi Nor added a third for the visitors, although Nicolas Delmonte did grab a consolation for JDT II four minutes from time.

The win was enough to take FELDA top of the group and book their place in the last eight along with second-placed Pahang, who progressed despite a 2-1 loss to LIONSXII.

Tok Gajah had initially been leading at the Darulmakmur Stadium courtesy of Dickson Nwakaeme’s 14th-minute opener, only for Sufian Anuar to equalise for the visitors seven minutes into the second half when he nodded home a cross from Madhu Mohana.

With a minute remaining, Madhu popped up and grabbed a goal of his own after converting a Faris Ramli delivery to hand LIONSXII the win, although it was ultimately in vain as they were eliminated.

Group C was also decided with a game to spare as Johor Darul Ta’zim sealed qualification – along with top spot – after defeating ATM 1-0 at the Majlis Perbandaran Selayang Stadium.

The only goal of the game came in the 19th minute when Luciano Figueroa scored to hand Harimau Selatan the victory, which proved enough to see them claim an unassailable four-point lead at the top of the group.

Meanwhile, Kelantan are also through from Group C after cruising to a 3-1 triumph over bottom side Penang at the Bandaraya Stadium.

Although Wan Zaharulnizam had handed the Red Warriors the lead five minutes after the half-hour mark, Luiz Ricardo managed to equalise for Penang two minutes into the second half.

Nonetheless, Khairul Izuan Rosli netted to restore Kelantan’s lead on the hour mark, before Francis Forkey Doe wrapped things up by making it 3-1 with six minutes remaining.

Warriors FC climbed into second on the S.League table on Friday evening after claiming a 2-0 win over Tampines Rovers at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Agu Casmir fired the Warriors ahead after 13 minutes, before Thomas Beattie added a second two minutes before the half-hour mark to wrap up the three points for his side.

The result was also enough to help Alex Weaver’s charges move two points behind DPMM FC with just five games remaining, although the league leaders now have a game in hand.

On Thursday, Albirex Niigata (S) produced a stunning comeback to overturn a three-goal deficit and beat Geylang International 4-3 at the Bedok Stadium.

The Eagles had taken a 16th-minute lead when Kento Fukuda smashed the ball home from a yard out, after opposition keeper Kenjiro Ogino had spilled a routine coach right in front of his goal.

And five minutes after the half-hour mark, another fumble by Ogino saw him fail to gather a low cross by Mustaqim Manzur to leave Leonel Felice with a simple tap-in.

Five minutes later, it looked as though the three points were in the bag for Geylang when they scored a third as Fukuda netted his second of the evening on the rebound, after Yuki Ichikawa’s initial effort had been saved.

However, Albirex managed to pull one back a minute before halftime when Kazuki Sakamoto received the ball on the edge of the box and drilled an unstoppable shot in off the bar.

Two minutes before the hour mark, the deficit was reduced further as Koki Akasaka cut in from the left and fired away a shot that took a wicked deflection and crept past Joey Sim at his near post.

Remarkably, the scores were then level in the 69th minute when Keisuke Ota reacted quickest after the hosts had failed to deal with a corner, and volleyed home the equaliser from close range.

Having done brilliantly to claw their way back into the game, the White Swans’ epic fightback was then completed in the final minute centre-back Norihiro Kawakami popped up at the other end to meet a left-wing cross with a glancing header into the bottom corner.

In Thursday’s other game, Courts Young Lions climbed out of the bottom two at the expense of Woodlands Wellington after recording a shock 3-0 win over Home United at the Bishan Stadium.

Following a goalless first half, Aide Iskandar’s side took the lead nine minutes after the break when Shameer Aziq emphatically planted a shot past Shahril Jantan after being slipped through by Jordan Webb.

The Protectors were then reduced to ten men in the 79th minute when Yasir Hanapi was sent off for a second bookable offence, and the visitors made the most of the numerical advantage three minutes later after Sahil Suhaimi pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the box and curled a shot into the bottom corner.

In injury-time, the Young Lions went on to seal the win as they hit Home on the counter; Webb embarking on a blistering run from the edge of his own box and rounding Shahril before slotting into the unguarded net.